How do you identify Stickley furniture?

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Quick Answer

Because Gustav Stickley and L. & J.G. Stickley branded most of their furniture with shop marks, it is usually possible not only to identify classic Stickley furniture but to identify the approximate date of production as well as the Stickley brother responsible for the piece. Shop marks took the form of burned-in brands, decals, metal tags and paper labels.

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Gustav Stickley used a burned-in brand from 1912 to 1916 while at The Craftsman Workshops. L. & J.G. Stickley branded most of their furniture from 1925 to 1985, including their Cherry Valley furniture. Modern L. & J.G. Stickley furniture made since 2007 also uses a burned-in brand.

Decals were used to identify much of the early Stickley furniture, including Gustav Stickley's work for United Crafts in 1902 and 1903. The same "Als Ik Kan" decal is used for Craftsman Workshops furniture made from 1905 to 1912, including that designed by Harvey Ellis. L. & J.G. Stickley used decals on their early furniture made for the Onondaga Shops from 1902 to 1906. They changed their decal for their "Handcraft" line made from 1907 to 1912.

L. & J.G. Stickley began to identify furniture with metal tags between 1912 and 1920, especially as they expanded their line beyond just mission furniture. Fiftieth anniversary medallions were struck for pieces made in 1950, and metal tags continue to be used on L. & J.G. Stickley furniture made since 1989.

Gustav Stickley began to write a personal guarantee on paper tags beginning in 1907. Printed paper guarantees were affixed to furniture made between 1912 and 1916. L. & J.G. Stickley also used paper tags for their Cherry Valley furniture made between 1945 and 1985.